Cape Town - GOOD councillor candidate Lulama Benge for the areas of Gugulethu and Nyanga in Ward 38 said he intends to take his community and environmental activism further as councillor after his involvement in a community led clean-up campaign that aimed to transform illegal dump sites in Nyanga into gardens.
After seeing the need for service delivery improvements in his community, the lack of infrastructure, unemployment especially among the youth, lack of housing, and expensive water and electricity tariffs, Benge said he was empowered to bring positive change by running as ward councillor.
Benge initiated a clean-up campaign with a group of Nyanga residents last year during the Covid-19 pandemic to transform neglected areas in their community that often turned into illegal dump sites, into green gardens.
He said it became evident that the residents could not depend on the City’s refuse collection or solid waste management departments to keep the area clean.
Another green initiative Benge was involved in was the Nyanga Hiking Club, which he started with Justin Ashley on which they took about 70 children from Nyanga and surrounding townships on a Sunday hike once a month to experience the beauty of the Peninsula and the camaraderie of being out in nature together.
“I am passionate about making a positive change as I am a resident of Ward 38 myself so I see the daily challenges and struggles my fellow residents and I have to endure. I want to ensure change actually happens,” said Benge.
If elected, Benge said he intended to scrap the water pipe levy, remove hidden costs of electricity, ensure all residents receive their title deeds, ensure housing delivery was back on track, and lobby for a City improvement district.
Nyanga resident Nomandla Sobada said she’s known Benge for a long time and has always known him to be a humble, respectful, intelligent individual who liked to go all out in helping residents in his community and the surroundings.
“Lulama so far has shown skills of a great leader and I am proud to say he's my councillor whether he wins the elections or not,” said Sobada.